{"id":101445,"date":"2025-10-15T19:41:07","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T17:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/?p=101445"},"modified":"2025-10-15T19:41:07","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T17:41:07","slug":"media-outcry-over-madlanga-commissions-move-to-hold-closed-door-hearings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/media-outcry-over-madlanga-commissions-move-to-hold-closed-door-hearings\/","title":{"rendered":"Media Outcry Over Madlanga Commission\u2019s Move to Hold Closed-Door Hearings"},"content":{"rendered":"

Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za<\/a> <\/em>
\n3-minute read | 15 October 2025 | 13:45 CAT<\/em><\/p>\n

\"\"

\ud83d\udcf8 Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga presides over proceedings at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, as debates intensify over the decision to hold certain hearings behind closed doors. (Image: Frennie Shivambu\/Gallo Images)<\/p><\/div>\n

The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Corruption has sparked widespread concern following its decision to potentially hold in-camera<\/em> hearings, a move critics warn could erode transparency and public trust. Two media houses have already filed objections against the order, arguing that secrecy in such a high-stakes inquiry undermines accountability.<\/p>\n

The commission, chaired by Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, adjourned proceedings to allow both the media and evidence leaders to submit written arguments on whether hearings should continue behind closed doors. The debate has reignited long-standing questions about the balance between national security and the public\u2019s right to know.<\/p>\n

Speaking to Radio Islam International<\/em>,<\/a> Media Monitoring Africa\u2019s Director William Bird said that while there may be rare cases where private hearings are justified, the commission must be \u201cclear and explicit\u201d about its reasoning. \u201cGiven the issues at stake, given the role players, and given what we are learning about, the commissioner must take the public into his confidence,\u201d Bird stated. \u201cOtherwise, the process risks being seen as yet another attempt to shield powerful figures from scrutiny.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bird cautioned that secrecy could further deepen public suspicion toward the state and the South African Police Service, already marred by corruption scandals. \u201cThe moment you start shutting doors in a system already perceived as broken, you invite profound mistrust,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Drawing comparisons to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission<\/em> and the Zondo Commission<\/em>, Bird underscored the importance of openness. \u201cThe purpose of these commissions was to allow South Africans to see and hear firsthand what went wrong to restore faith in justice,\u201d he explained. \u201cIf this inquiry now retreats into the shadows, it risks undoing that fragile confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, Bird noted that limited confidentiality could be justified if witnesses face genuine safety risks. \u201cIf someone believes their life is in danger, as we\u2019ve seen in tragic cases like Babita Deokaran\u2019s, then protecting their identity is understandable,\u201d he said. \u201cBut the commission must still explain why and how that protection is applied.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bird also commended the South African media for its persistent role in uncovering corruption and upholding democratic accountability. \u201cWithout journalists bringing these cases to light, this commission wouldn\u2019t even exist,\u201d he remarked. \u201cDespite resource constraints, the media continues to play an overwhelmingly positive role in ensuring transparency.\u201d<\/p>\n

As public scrutiny intensifies, all eyes remain on Justice Madlanga\u2019s next move and whether the inquiry will prioritise openness or succumb to secrecy.<\/p>\n

Listen<\/strong> to the full interview on The Daily Round-Up<\/em><\/a> with Moulana Junaid Kharsany and William Bird.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za 3-minute read | 15 October 2025 | 13:45 CAT The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into Corruption has sparked widespread concern following its decision to potentially hold in-camera hearings, a move critics warn could erode transparency and public trust. Two media houses have already filed objections against the order, arguing that secrecy […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":101446,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[28,4995],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-101445","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-news","category-south-africa"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Madlanga.jpg?fit=1080%2C720&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pc0QIf-qod","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-04-18 03:54:18","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101445","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=101445"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/101445\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/101446"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=101445"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=101445"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/radioislam.org.za\/a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=101445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}